Support for illuminated globe used on gasoline pumps



Oct. 14, 1952 K sMlTH 2,614,207

SUPPORT FOR ILLUMINATED GLOBE USED ON GASOLINE PUMPS Filed March 28, 1950 1' INVENTOR. I j 3 2 4 KENNETH F. SM/TH {P BY J. gyzfiw I 2 Afgs.

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 SUPPORT FOR; ILLUMINATED GLOBE USED ON GASOLINE PUMPS Kenneth'F. Smith, Lima, Ohio, assignor to Neon Products Inc., Lima, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March. 28, 1950; Serial No. 152,397

3 Claims. (01. 240-400) This invention relates to a lighting fixture and more particularly to a lighting fixture adapted for use as a sign on gasoline pumps and which may be illuminated by an internal light source as and when desired.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive lighting fixture adapted for use as a sign on new or old gasoline pumps.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture which has a shell comprising a pair of formed plastic faces, the marginal rims or edges of which are secured by means of split channel rings to a base.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture such as set forth above that shall be simple in construction, relatively inexpensive, and attractive and neat in appearance.

These and other objects of the invention will be'apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a lighting fixture constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the lighting fixture shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the base shell;

Fig. 4 is a view in section of the base shell, taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 3, showing fragmentary portions of the frame, clamp ring, and brackets mounted thereon and partially in section along the same line;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line VV of Fig, 4; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line VI--VI of Fig. 1; and

Fig, 7 is a fragmentary view of one of the pair of face members showing a portion cut away to admit the base neck within the enclosure formed by the pair of face members when the fixture is assembled.

Throughout the drawings and specification like reference characters indicate like parts.

The invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a base or base shell I upon which is mounted a globe or sign body 2. The base shell I is hollow, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is preferably cast in one piece, of metal such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. The base shell I comprises a cylindrical bottom section 3, an intermediate frusto-conic section 4, a cylindrical neck section 5 of smaller diameter than section 3, and a pair of opposed lugs 6 projecting radially outwardly from r the neck. Lugs 6 are shown as being integral 2 with neck 5 and frusto-conic section 4. Each of the pair of opposed lugs 6 is formed with a channel groove I in its upper face onthe opposite translucent faces ID of substantially dish shape disposed on opposite sides of ring 9, and a ringlike retaining member II that embraces ring 9, the marginal edges of faces I0, and secures the faces to the support ring.

The support ring 9 may be made froma solid bar bent into the form of an open ring or it may, as shown, be made from sheet metal formed as a channel. The sheet metal channel is bentinto the form of an open ring channel 9 with'channel flanges I2 projecting radially inward. The ends of ring channel 9 are secured by screws I5 medially of grooves I. The ends of ring 9 willthen be adjacent the hollow of base I as shown in Figs."

The translucent faces ID of substantially dish shape are preferably formed from methylmethacrylate resin known to the trade as Plexiglas or Lucite. The marginal edges of faces II] are turned radially outward and placed in face to face relation with opposite sides of ring 9. The outer portion of the rim of faces I0 is embraced between the ring II and lug flanges 8 of lugs '6.

The faces Ill adjacent base sections 4 and 5 are cut away to conform to the contour of sections 4 and 5. The edges are cut away to fit closely against base I and provide a substantially weatherand insect-tight joint.

The ring-like retaining member Il may be made, as shown, from sheet metal formed as a channel. The channel is bent into the form of an open ring with the channel flanges projecting radially inward. The width of the channel is such that its flanges embrace the support ring 9, the marginal edges of faces I0, and secure the faces to the support ring to form the globe 2. The ends of retaining member II abut the pads or lugs 6, as shown in Fig. 1, when the globe is placed in position on base I. A tab or clip I6 is secured to each end of retainer II whereby it may be secured to face I! of lugs 6 by screws I8. The retainer II thereby holds globe 2 together and securely upon base I.

The fixture may be used for lighting purposes or if desired, indicia to be displayed may be applied to the interior or exterior surfaces of the faces 10.

Having thus described the invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made in the illustrated embodiment of the invention without departing from either the pirit or the scope of the invention.

What I claim, therefore, as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A lighting fixture adapted to house a light source and comprising a hollow base having a hollow neck extending upwardly therefrom and a housing mounted on said neck and secured to said base, said neck extending upwardly into said housing, said housing comprising an inner split ring having its ends attached to said base on opposite sides of the neck, said inner ring being disposed vertically to said base, a translucent face shell on each side of said inner ring, each shell having an outwardly extending peripheral flange, said shell flanges abutting the opposite sides of said inner ring, an outer, split retaining ring of channel shape in section embracing the flanges of said shells and said inner ring, and means for securing the ends of said retaining ring to said base at locations adjacent the respective ends of said inner ring.

2. A lighting fixture'adapted to house a light source and comprising a hollow base having a cylindrical bottom portion, a cylindrical neck portion of smaller diameter than said base portion and an intermediate hollow frusto-conic section joining said base and neck portions, and a housing mounted on and embracing said neck and secured to said base, said housing having an opening through which said neck extends upwardly, said housing comprising an inner split ring having its ends attached to said base on opposite sides of said neck, the inner ring being disposed vertically to said base, a shell having a translucent face disposed on each side of said ring, each shell having an outwardly extending peripheral flange, said flange abutting the opposite sides of said ring, an outer split retaining ring of channel shape in section embracing the flanges of said shells and said inner ring, and means for securing the ends of said retaining ring to said base on opposite sides of said neck. 3. A lighting fixture adapted to house a light source and comprising a hollow base having a cylindrical bottom portion, a cylindrical neck portion of smaller diameter than said base portion, an intermediate hollow frusto-conic section joining said base and neck portions, and a pair of pads disposed diametrically opposite each other and extending outwardly of said neck and upwardly of said frusto-conic section, each pad having a side face and an upper face, and a housing mounted on said base, said housing comprising an inner split ring of channel shape in section having its ends attached to the upper faces of said pads, said upper faces conforming to the curvature of and engaging the inner ring, said inner ring being disposed vertically to said base, a shell having a translucent face disposed on each side of said inner ring, each shell having an outwardly extending peripheral flange, said flanges abutting the outer faces of the respective opposite flanges of said inner ring, an outer split retaining ring of channel shape in section embracing the flanges of said shells and said inner ring, the peripheral flanges of said face shells fitting closely against said base and said outer ring to provide a substantially weather and insect tight joint therewith, said outer ring being provided with tabs extending radially outward from its ends, and means for securing said tabs to the side faces of the respective base pads on opposite sides of said neck.

KENNETH F. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 16,254 Leech et a1. Jan. 19, 1926 1,399,042 Beeman Dec. 6, 1921 1,401,988 Knapp Jan. 3, 1922 1,518,787 Hall Dec. 9, 1924 2,041,189 Keating et al May 19, 1936 

